Why Is the Canadian Government Subsidizing ‘Alternatives International’?
Alternatives International is a Montreal-based non-governmental agency that has been accorded charity status by Revenue Canada. Describing itself as “social and political movements struggling against social injustices, neoliberalism, imperialism and war,” their actual charitable work is rather difficult to determine.
One of Alternatives’ activities last year was to serve as the financial conduit for the Canadian boat that attempted to break the sea blockade imposed around the Gaza strip by Israel in order to prevent arms smuggling by Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. That boat, derisively known as The Sea Hitler, was intercepted by Israel’s navy after repeated warnings by the Canadian and Israeli governments against sailing to Gaza. (Currently, its Canadian owner, Sandra Ruch, is trying to launch a far-fetched lawsuit to recover the Comoros-registered vessel) .
The delivery of tax funds to an organization that seems to be engaged in activities designed to undermine Canadian foreign policy goals could be seen as not only wasteful but irresponsible. Newly appointed International Cooperation Minister Julian Fantino, who is now responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency has said he will ensure “that every nickel of taxpayer money is spent for the right reasons.” A good way for him to start would be to review federal handouts to Alternatives International and put a stop to the almost three and a half million nickels it receives annually from the federal government.
Posted as is from the Canadian blog. I have no idea why federal and provincial authorities would see fit to provide funding and tax breaks to an organization bent on subverting Canadian foreign policy and violating international law.